Air-cooled gas lasers with heat transfer resonator optics and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Embodiments of an air-cooled gas laser with heat transfer resonator optics are disclosed herein. A laser configured in accordance with one embodiment includes resonator optics having an optical element, a first heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with a first side surface of the optical element, a second heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with a second side surface of the optical element, and a carrier member carrying the optical element and the first heat sink element, and including a forward facing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the backside surface of the optical element. The resonator optics further include first and second biasing elements biasedly coupled to the carrier member and configured to bias the first and second heat sink elements against the first side and second side surfaces, respectively, of the optical element.

we claim: 
     
       1. A laser having a resonator optics assembly, comprising:
 an optical element having a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, and a backside surface; 
 a first heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with the first side surface; 
 a second heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with the second side surface; 
 a carrier member carrying the optical element and the first and second heat sink elements,
 wherein the carrier member includes a forward facing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the backside surface of the optical element; 
 
 a first biasing element biasedly coupled to the carrier member and configured to bias the first heat sink element toward the first biasing element and against the first side surface of the optical element; and 
 a second biasing element biasedly coupled to the carrier member and configured to bias the second heat sink element toward the first biasing element and against the second side surface of the optical element. 
 
     
     
       2. The laser of  claim 1  wherein the carrier member includes a raised outer portion adjacent the first heat sink element, and wherein the first biasing element is biasedly coupled to the raised outer portion. 
     
     
       3. A laser having a resonator optics assembly, comprising:
 an optical element having a first side surface, a second side surface opposite the first side surface, and a backside surface; 
 a first heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with the first side surface; 
 a second heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with the second side surface; 
 a carrier member carrying the optical element and the first heat sink element, wherein the carrier member includes a forward facing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the backside surface of the optical element; and a raised outer portion adjacent the first heat sink element; 
 a first biasing element biasedly coupled to the carrier member and configured to bias the first heat sink element toward the second biasing element and against the first side surface of the optical element, wherein the first biasing element is biasedly coupled to the raised outer portion; and 
 a second biasing element biasedly coupled to the carrier member and configured to bias the second heat sink element toward the first biasing element and against the second side suface of the optical element, 
 wherein the raised outer portion includes an aperture, and wherein the first biasing element extends into the aperture. 
 
     
     
       4. The laser of  claim 1  wherein:
 the forward facing surface is a first forward facing surface; 
 the carrier member includes a second forward facing surface facing the first heat sink element; and 
 the resonator optics assembly includes a third biasing element biasedly coupling the first heat sink element to the carrier member and configured to bias the first heat sink heat element against the second forward facing surface. 
 
     
     
       5. The laser of  claim 4  wherein the first heat sink element includes an opening, wherein the resonator optics assembly further includes a fastener extending through the opening and coupled to the backside surface, and wherein the third biasing element is held within the opening by the fastener. 
     
     
       6. The laser of  claim 4  wherein the resonator optics assembly includes a third biasing element configured to bias the backside surface of the optical element against the forward-facing surface of the carrier member. 
     
     
       7. The laser of  claim 1  wherein:
 the optical element includes a first engagement feature; and 
 the resonator optics assembly includes
 a second engagement feature facing the first engagement feature, and 
 a third biasing element biasedly coupled to the carrier member and configured to bias the first engagement feature into engagement with the second engagement feature. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The laser of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second heat sink elements each includes a backside surface; and 
 the carrier member is in surface-to-surface contact with the back side surface of each of the first and second heat sink elements. 
 
     
     
       9. The laser of  claim 1  wherein the optical element includes a mirror. 
     
     
       10. The laser of  claim 1  wherein the optical element includes a first engagement feature, and wherein the resonator optics assembly includes a second engagement feature facing the first engagement feature. 
     
     
       11. The laser of  claim 1  wherein the optical element includes a surface depression in the backside surface of the optical element, and wherein the resonator optics assembly includes a rod or pin engaging the surface depression. 
     
     
       12. The laser of  claim 11  wherein the resonator optics assembly includes a spring finger biasing the rod or pin into engagement with the surface depression. 
     
     
       13. The laser of  claim 3  wherein the first biasing element includes a compression spring. 
     
     
       14. The laser of  claim 13  wherein the compression spring extends at least partially into the aperture. 
     
     
       15. A laser having a resonator optics assembly, comprising:
 an optical element having a side surface and a backside surface; 
 a heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with the side surface; 
 a carrier member carrying the optical element and the heat sink element, wherein the carrier member includes a forward facing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the backside surface of the optical element, and a raised outer portion separated from the heat sink element by a gap; and 
 a biasing element disposed at least in the gap and biasedly coupling the heat sink element with the raised outer portion, wherein the biasing element is configured to bias the heat sink element against the side surface of the optical element. 
 
     
     
       16. The laser of  claim 15  wherein:
 the side surface is a first side surface; 
 the optical element has a second side surface opposite the first side surface; 
 the heat sink element is a first heat sink element, and wherein the laser further comprises a second heat sink element in surface-to-surface contact with the second side surface; and 
 the biasing element is configured to bias the first heat sink element toward the second heat sink element. 
 
     
     
       17. The laser of  claim 15  wherein the biasing element includes a compression spring. 
     
     
       18. The laser of  claim 17  wherein the raised outer portion includes an aperture, and wherein a portion of the biasing element extends into the aperture. 
     
     
       19. The laser of  claim 15  wherein the optical element includes a surface feature facing the carrier member, and wherein the resonator optics assembly includes a retainment feature configured to engage the surface feature. 
     
     
       20. The laser of  claim 15  wherein the heat sink element is configured to thermally expand into the gap.